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I bought the same camera that you got from Ebay.
I tested it and it looks ok. Although I'm a little concerned about the water proof aspect of it.
The place where the wire comes out, there is no seal at all!
Seems like water can easily enter the camera through there.

Also, the thread sleeve can actually be unscrewed from the body. It would seem that water can enter the camera through the thread.

Have you done anything to water proof any of these areas?

I hope to keep my Impreza for more than 10 years, I would hope that this camera would last just as long...though this camera being $20, I'm feeling less confident that it's going to last.

I bought the same camera that you got from Ebay.
I tested it and it looks ok. Although I'm a little concerned about the water proof aspect of it.
The place where the wire comes out, there is no seal at all!
Seems like water can easily enter the camera through there.

Also, the thread sleeve can actually be unscrewed from the body. It would seem that water can enter the camera through the thread.

Have you done anything to water proof any of these areas?

I hope to keep my Impreza for more than 10 years, I would hope that this camera would last just as long...though this camera being $20, I'm feeling less confident that it's going to last.

I did use some silicon sealant around the screw section and around the plate cover/screws to provide some water-proofing. I would think that provides some level of water-proofing. You can also buy a spare camera just in case since it's pretty inexpensive.

I'm having another problem. I don't know if it's my camera having problems or is it just this model camera has this behavior.

The issue is that when I put my car in reverse, I would have to wait about 12 seconds before the camera would come on. This happen the first time, then it seems that the camera warms up. So if I put it in park and then back to reverse, I would see the camera go off and then back on within 1-2 seconds.
But if I don't use the camera for 3 minutes, then it goes 'cold' again and then it takes 12 seconds for it to power on the next time.

It seems strange that the 'cold start' takes so long.

Please let me know if you think I might have a defective unit.

I think I can still get an exchange for it, but it would be a pain to remove and re-install the camera.

I'm having another problem. I don't know if it's my camera having problems or is it just this model camera has this behavior.

The issue is that when I put my car in reverse, I would have to wait about 12 seconds before the camera would come on. This happen the first time, then it seems that the camera warms up. So if I put it in park and then back to reverse, I would see the camera go off and then back on within 1-2 seconds.
But if I don't use the camera for 3 minutes, then it goes 'cold' again and then it takes 12 seconds for it to power on the next time.

It seems strange that the 'cold start' takes so long.

Please let me know if you think I might have a defective unit.

I think I can still get an exchange for it, but it would be a pain to remove and re-install the camera.

Thanks in advace for all your help.

For mine, I definitely don't have any sort of "cold start" issues. It just goes on right away every time. Did you get the harness from SVXDC? Do you have it wired to your reverse light? Mine had a small red wire next to the AV jack on the camera harness which I didn't hook up. Did you get it through the same seller as the auction I listed?

Some cameras require +12V power that is "on" whenever your key is on, not just when you're in reverse. See this thread.

As I mention in my post there, you should always test a camera connected to the HU's rear camera input before you install it. Makes it much easier to return if it's defective (or you simply don't like it).

For mine, I definitely don't have any sort of "cold start" issues. It just goes on right away every time. Did you get the harness from SVXDC? Do you have it wired to your reverse light? Mine had a small red wire next to the AV jack on the camera harness which I didn't hook up. Did you get it through the same seller as the auction I listed?

Hi ST EYE,
I didn't get the item from the same seller. I wanted to get one from a seller near me in case there are issues, I can get service a lot easier.
Though the item looks identical to what your ebay listing shows. Mine is a Taotronic E366.

I did get the harness from SVXDC. Mine came with a RCA jack and a black wire with a 'fork' that can be screwed down to ground. The instruction says to attach it to gorund, so I had it screwed down to the HU's chasis.

My camera had only 2 wires other than the RCA wire. One red one black. The red went to the + terminal on the backup light, the black went to the - termianl on the backup light. Originally I had the black going to the car chasis, but becuase of the problem I was having, I changed it to - terminal of the backup light. I didn't make any difference however.

BTW, on the HU screen, it switches to camera view and show the "check surrounding... waring message" immediately when I shift to reverse gear. However, the screen remains black, until the camera powers up.

Hi ST EYE,
I didn't get the item from the same seller. I wanted to get one from a seller near me in case there are issues, I can get service a lot easier.
Though the item looks identical to what your ebay listing shows. Mine is a Taotronic E366.

I did get the harness from SVXDC. Mine came with a RCA jack and a black wire with a 'fork' that can be screwed down to ground. The instruction says to attach it to gorund, so I had it screwed down to the HU's chasis.

My camera had only 2 wires other than the RCA wire. One red one black. The red went to the + terminal on the backup light, the black went to the - termianl on the backup light. Originally I had the black going to the car chasis, but becuase of the problem I was having, I changed it to - terminal of the backup light. I didn't make any difference however.

BTW, on the HU screen, it switches to camera view and show the "check surrounding... waring message" immediately when I shift to reverse gear. However, the screen remains black, until the camera powers up.

To be honest, I thought all of these cameras were the same. They look identical. I think it may be a defective camera. Mine comes up right away every time.

ST Eye,
I contacted the ebay seller, he is willing to let me exchange it.

I'm still curious about the wiring. Did you ground a wire on SVXDC harness?

On the camera wiring, there is a black and red wire, did you connect them to backup light power?

You had mentioned an unconnected red wire. I'm not sure which one you left unconnected.

I did ground the wire on the mounting points on the radio just as you did. On the camera wiring I connected the red wire to the reverse bulb's red wire, and I grounded the black wire on the mounting screw.

Regarding the unconnected red wire, there was a small red wire that was on the end of the RCA end (near the head unit). When I connected it to the 12+ power (in conjunction with the reverse light bulb wiring) the head unit displayed the video all the time - even in park.

My suggestion is if you STILL have problems with that camera after exchanging it, I would just buy it through the guy I bought the camera from. Good think it's a cheap camera!

I did ground the wire on the mounting points on the radio just as you did. On the camera wiring I connected the red wire to the reverse bulb's red wire, and I grounded the black wire on the mounting screw.

Regarding the unconnected red wire, there was a small red wire that was on the end of the RCA end (near the head unit). When I connected it to the 12+ power (in conjunction with the reverse light bulb wiring) the head unit displayed the video all the time - even in park.

My suggestion is if you STILL have problems with that camera after exchanging it, I would just buy it through the guy I bought the camera from. Good think it's a cheap camera!

I got the replacement cam from the ebay seller. I check it while I was in the parking lot. It does turn on instantly now.

I got the replacement cam from the ebay seller. I check it while I was in the parking lot. It does turn on instantly now.

Now, on to the chore of water proofing it and re-installing...

Thanks for all the help!

if you don't mind sharing detailed notes, when you are done, with the rest of us, that would be great.

some questions that come to mind (and would be helped by pictures if you would be so generous) include:

- did you need to take apart the dash to access the harness of the HU? or could you just reach behind and unplug and replug it in? (when searching for a rattle, i could spy the connector on the back of the HU although i didn't see if my hand could reach up that far)

- how did you route the wire from the back of the HU and with the extra harness, back to the hatch? (this is probably a multipart question as it, i am guessing, involves going either around/through the doors/headliner/carpet or a combination of them all and perhaps needing to fish/feed the wire through some of those conduits through the door opening(s)

if you don't mind sharing detailed notes, when you are done, with the rest of us, that would be great.

some questions that come to mind (and would be helped by pictures if you would be so generous) include:

- did you need to take apart the dash to access the harness of the HU? or could you just reach behind and unplug and replug it in? (when searching for a rattle, i could spy the connector on the back of the HU although i didn't see if my hand could reach up that far)

- how did you route the wire from the back of the HU and with the extra harness, back to the hatch? (this is probably a multipart question as it, i am guessing, involves going either around/through the doors/headliner/carpet or a combination of them all and perhaps needing to fish/feed the wire through some of those conduits through the door opening(s)

thanks! glad to hear you got a working camera!

+1

I'm very interested in doing this myself but need a more detailed How-to.
Pictures please!!
How hard is it to get the plastic dash bezel off? It seems on there pretty tight and the last thing I want to do is crack it. Is there a way to get the plug on without removing the front??
Please show how you routed the cable.

if you don't mind sharing detailed notes, when you are done, with the rest of us, that would be great.

some questions that come to mind (and would be helped by pictures if you would be so generous) include:

- did you need to take apart the dash to access the harness of the HU? or could you just reach behind and unplug and replug it in? (when searching for a rattle, i could spy the connector on the back of the HU although i didn't see if my hand could reach up that far)

You need to pull off the front bezel. It is on there pretty good (clips) so having plastic prying tools helps out a lot. Then you take off 4 screws holding the HU to the car. Pull it out and remove the connectors in the back. The harness from SVXdc plugs into one of the vacant connections. Ground the wire on one of the screws holding the radio.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nubsub

- how did you route the wire from the back of the HU and with the extra harness, back to the hatch? (this is probably a multipart question as it, i am guessing, involves going either around/through the doors/headliner/carpet or a combination of them all and perhaps needing to fish/feed the wire through some of those conduits through the door opening(s)

thanks! glad to hear you got a working camera!

I removed the door sill plastic and lower a-pillar plastic in order to get enough under the carpet. Used fish tape in some areas. Routed wire under passenger footwell area and up the center console. I have a sedan, so I ran the wire up the existing wire conduit up the trunk arm. For hatches, check earlier in the thread.

if you don't mind sharing detailed notes, when you are done, with the rest of us, that would be great.

some questions that come to mind (and would be helped by pictures if you would be so generous) include:

- did you need to take apart the dash to access the harness of the HU? or could you just reach behind and unplug and replug it in? (when searching for a rattle, i could spy the connector on the back of the HU although i didn't see if my hand could reach up that far)

- how did you route the wire from the back of the HU and with the extra harness, back to the hatch? (this is probably a multipart question as it, i am guessing, involves going either around/through the doors/headliner/carpet or a combination of them all and perhaps needing to fish/feed the wire through some of those conduits through the door opening(s)

thanks! glad to hear you got a working camera!

Yes, I pull out the HU to hook up the adaptor from svxdc that provided the RCA input jack. The HU was not hard to access. Use a butter knife to pry the cover loose from the top left corner, then the whole thing loose quickly.
While I had the HU pulled out, I did the mod to defeat the stereo setting lockout while the car in motion. Just cut the wire going to pin#19.

This is as much as I did as far as the install. The rest, I paid an installer $40.

I didn't see how the installer route the wires, but I have some idea how he did it.
To swap out the defective camera, I'll only be working on the back hatch section. I'll try to get some picture while I'm at it.
I think the hard part was getting form the back seat area to the trunk.
They took off the cover on the top half of the trunk area and route the wire through that section. I was going to run the wire along the bottom of the trunk, but couldn't figure out how to remove that cover.
They connected the camera power to backup light. Back up light is accessed by taking out the two bolts holding the back light assembly, then pull the assembly straight backward.

i appreciate your tips and experiences. i like your idea: finding a good installer to route the wires for you. i have no problems doing the electrical on the hatchback side of things... i just am a bit anxious about causing new rattles and tearing about apart panels to get wires to that back area.

do keep us posted. folks like you and STeye keep encouraging me that this is something i should do. i continue to find it don't ahve a very good diea of the extent of the "backend" of my car. this especially comes from the headrests and being used to driving a car with a trunk, previously.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobdole888

Yes, I pull out the HU to hook up the adaptor from svxdc that provided the RCA input jack. The HU was not hard to access. Use a butter knife to pry the cover loose from the top left corner, then the whole thing loose quickly.
While I had the HU pulled out, I did the mod to defeat the stereo setting lockout while the car in motion. Just cut the wire going to pin#19.

This is as much as I did as far as the install. The rest, I paid an installer $40.

I didn't see how the installer route the wires, but I have some idea how he did it.
To swap out the defective camera, I'll only be working on the back hatch section. I'll try to get some picture while I'm at it.
I think the hard part was getting form the back seat area to the trunk.
They took off the cover on the top half of the trunk area and route the wire through that section. I was going to run the wire along the bottom of the trunk, but couldn't figure out how to remove that cover.
They connected the camera power to backup light. Back up light is accessed by taking out the two bolts holding the back light assembly, then pull the assembly straight backward.

Here's my write up on camera install on the limited hatchback.
The installation was partly done by an installer, so I don't have all the steps. I'll show what I can and make best guess of the missingap steps.

The camera that I got was from ebay. It's easy to find the same one by searching for "E366 camera". Buy from a reputable US seller so that if something goes wrong with the camera you can get have it exchanged easier.
This camera may have issues with water proofing, so I covered all the seams, around the mounting post, around the gap between wire and post with shoe goo for water proofing. Clear silicon probably works better, but that's just what I had that can water proof.

Let's start the install from the HU. It's a good idea to test the camera to make sure the camera works with the HU before spending all the time mounting and routing wires.

To get access to the HU, use a smooth butter knife to pry the cover off. Start at the top left corner. Use your nail to get create a slight gap by pulling the cover towards you. Insert the butter knife in the top left corner. Use gentle rocking/prying action to create more gap. You only need about 1/4 inch gap to get the cover loose. Work your way across the top. Once the top is free, nudge along the sides, then the bottom to get the whole cover loose. The cover is attached by hazard light, and the wire harness for the A/C.
Squeeze on the center top tab on the harness to detached it from the cover. Lift the cover and push it out of the way.
Take out the 4 screws holding HU, pull out the HU. You don't need to disconnect any of the wires.
Hook up the adaptor harness from SVXDC to get the RCA video jack.
Unscrew one of the screws on the HU chasis and then attache the ground wire from the adaptor harness to the the chasis.
Hook up the RCA cable from the camera to the jack.
Hook up your camera and do a test with ignition on and shifter in reverse. You should be able to display image from your camera on the HU display.
Put the HU back.

Route the video wire along the bottom of the dash and then to the side wall.

Run the wire under the door sill along the driver side.

Then route along back door sill. Picture with door sill removed. Just pull up and forward a little and the the door sill pops out easily.

I'm not sure about this part, but I know the installer removed the beige cover for the air bag that's on the top half the the trunk area. There is at least one screw holding this cover.
I believe this is how you can route the wire the back seat up to the hatch conduit.

Let's work on mounting the camera now.
This is what the camera looks like mounted.

But first, we need to remove all of the covers on the hatch to work on it.

Start by gentally pulling on the edge of the top center piece. It should snap off quite easily.

Next, remove the side covers. Just pull on it, it will just snap off.

Note, there were once screw on each side under the side covers. Remove these screws to free the main hatch cover. Pull on the main hatch cover and it should come free as you work it all around the cover.

This is what it looks like from the inside. Note, the square opening is factory cut. It's a little tight, but still big enough to allow for the install.

Mount the camera. I put some shoe goo between the camera and the car to make sure it doesn't shift if the bolt loosens.

Run the wire from the camera towards the hatch conduit. Connect up the camera wire to the wire from the HU. See the tie strap I did on the connection. This prevents the connection from coming loose if there was an accidental tug on the wire.